A 32-nation naval partnership

CTF 150 Commander meets with Pakistan Navy to bolster maritime security in the Middle East

A Combined Task Force (CTF) 150 delegation, led by Commodore Daryl Bates Royal Australian Navy, recently met with senior leaders of the Pakistan Navy during a three day visit to Pakistan.

Pakistan is both a regional nation and a significant contributor to Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) operations, having joined the coalition in 2004. The CTF 150 delegation met with key commands of the Pakistan Navy in Islamabad and Karachi, to identify opportunities to improve the exchange of information and better coordinate assets in support of operational objectives.

The visit provided a great opportunity for Commodore Bates, who recently assumed command of CTF 150 from Pakistan, to express his gratitude to Pakistan for their steadfast support to the CMF.

He said: “I feel privileged to have met senior leaders in the Pakistan Navy. These meetings have resulted in some excellent outcomes. The ongoing exchange of information between CTF 150 and regional nations are critical to our mission here; that is to provide a lawful and stable maritime environment, free from terrorism, smuggling and other illicit activities.”

He added: “I am confident that maritime security operations will be enhanced as a result of our cooperation with Pakistan, and ongoing dialogue between the CMF and other member and regional nations.”

The CTF 150 command element is currently staffed by a team of 25 personnel from the Royal Australian Navy. Its principal mission is to maintain maritime security and deter, disrupt and defeat attempts by international terrorist organisations to use the maritime environment as a venue for an attack or as a means to transport personnel, weapons or other materials.

CTF 150 is one of three task forces commanded by CMF, a multinational naval partnership of 29 nations, which exists to promote security, stability and prosperity across approximately 2.5 million square miles of international waters, which encompass some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.

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Published by Combined Maritime Forces

CMF is a unique multi-national collective of 32 like-minded nations, dedicated to promoting security and free flow of commerce across 3.2 million square miles of international waters in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin, the Indian Ocean and the Gulf. CMF’s main focus areas are disrupting terrorism, preventing piracy, reducing illegal activities, and promoting a safe maritime environment for all.
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